KAWARTHA LAKES-Caressant Care Nursing and Retirement Homes LTD. is making vaccination mandatory for those working in all of their homes.
Officials say effective November 1st, 2021, all staff (including those contracted to provide Resident care), students and volunteers who work in any of our 15 long-term care and 10 retirement homes must show proof of all required doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, or a combination of COVID-19 vaccines approved by Health Canada or the World Health Organization (WHO).
17 local residents died of Coronavirus after outbreaks at Carressant Care facilities in Lindsay. Read more here:https://www.kawartha411.ca/2021/02/23/caressant-care-in-lindsay-enters-into-voluntary-management-contract-with-ross-memorial-hospital/
Those who are not fully vaccinated and do not fall under the exemption criteria including medical and religious reasons will be placed on unpaid leave according to officials from the home. According to labour lawyers at Dutton Law in Toronto, a leave of absence is a temporary stoppage of work, initiated by the employee not an employer. It’s unclear if this forced, unpaid leave is legal.
“With cases continuing to rise as we head into fall and concerns over the Delta and other variants of COVID-19 Caressant Care recognizes the importance of immunization of staff, student placements, and volunteers due to the nature of their work with vulnerable seniors and potential for exposure in the community,” says Stuart Oakley, Communications and Marketing Manager for Caressant Care. “This COVID-19 policy aims to protect the home’s population including residents, staff, and volunteers.”
This policy applies to:
- Workers/staff (employees, people retained on a contracted services basis, and people employed by an employment agency or other third party)
- Newly hired staff (prior to commencing orientation in the home). Effective November 1, 2021, all offers of employment will be conditional upon proof of vaccination against COVID -19.
- Students on an educational placement at the Home (prior to starting student placement in the home)
- Volunteers (prior to commencing volunteering in the home)“Every employee in our organization has chosen older adult care as their profession and therefore has a responsibility to protect those entrusted in their care. A fully vaccinated workforce creates the safest possible workplace environment for residents and staff.” said Oakley.
